Seam pressing machine



Aprii 29, 1947. RQSKE 2,419,594

SEAM PRESSING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 in var/215w ML i ton H. Ros/(e Patented Apr. 29, 1947 SEAM PRESSING MACHINE :Milton H. Roske, Malden, "Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of .N ew- Jersey Application July 13, 1944; Serial No. 544,728

4 Claims.

This invention relates tomachines forzpresshing-seams formed in shoe parts, for example, the back 'seams :of shoe uppers. These seams result 'fromthe stitching together of the marginal portions of the quarters 'of'the shoeupper. The *stitching operation' is performed with the outer surfaces of the margins of the upper material in-iface-to-face relation, and when the quarters are turned right'side out the seam. presents an midesimble-inwardly extendingridge. It is GUS-- '-tomary in the manufacture of shoes to employ various devices toflatten this ridge.

It isan object of 'theipresent invention to provide-raseam pressing machine capable :of flatteningrseam ridges neatly and evenly. JInaccordance with this object; a feature of the in- --vention resides in the provision :of a seam. pressing' roll-of relatively large diameter anda pair of driven 1 feed "rolls .positioned .at opposite sides of a work support and closely adjacent to the locality of operation of the pressing roll; the feed "rolls being supported :in such a manner as to leave a spacecbetween themv to accommodate the large 'diameter pressing roll. These feed rolls serve not. only to "control the feed :of the work apiece, but they' -also tension the workpiece between them 'in/a direction transversetothe seam. Such" tensioning gives-a better appearance to the finished work.

In my divisionalapplication, Seria1'No;-'6-l 8004, "filed xontSeptember :22, 1945, I have disclosed-and claimedeamethod'of pressing a seam, which meth- -odrincludes .the step of tensioning'the'workpiece "transversely of'the seam.

The various featuresof the invention-including certain details of construction and combinaitionsiofparts will be described in connection with an "illustrative machine I and pointed out in the :appended claims.

'Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is-a front view ofan illustrative machine embodying the invention;

iFlgs2'is a sideview ofthe machine; 1

Fig. 3 is a large scale side elevation or the "work-engaging 'instrumentalities;

-Fi'gu4iis a' view infront elevation'of the parts :1 shown in Fig.5 and Fig.5'is a-sectionalview'taken onthe' line V-V -=of Fig. 3.

.7 The operating instrumentalities of the illustrated machine comprise :a driven-seam pressing'or seamrubbing roll 10 of relatively large diameter, a worksupport l2, and apair of driven feed rolls l4 and 'l 6. The work (is guided to the operating members byaseamYcreaseguide 1:8- :and ra seam secured to-a work bench 23 (Fig. l).

aXisof the projection 33.

ridge'g'uide 20. The supporting structure of the machine consists of a base plate ZZ adaptedtQ-be The driven members and the seam ridge guide-are supported "by-a 100511 24 .(Fig. 2) extending upwardly from the rear of the base plate 22 and the Worksupport comprises work-engaging members carried by a bracket 26 which is secured'upon the forwardportion .of the base plate.

Theseam pressing roll I0 is a relatively narrow disk-like member having va fluted periphery. .It is secured upon a shaft 28 journaled "in suitable bearings 29 carried by a pair of forwardlyextending arms 30 rigidly secured to thepost 24. Apul1ey32 (Fig. 1) on the shaft 28 is driven by a belt 34 passing over a pulley 56. Aimotor 38 drives the pulley 3-6 directly through a shaft 40. The roll lfl'is thus driven at relatively high speed.

The feed roll I4 is mounted upon the lower .end of an inclined shaft 42 which is journaled and longitudinally slidable in a bearing'44 carried by the forward end of an arm-46. The bearing 44 has a cylindrical projection 33 extending through an ear on a block 35. A nut 31 threaded on the projection 33 clamps the bearingMlin any desired position of rotary adjustment aboutthe The block 35 :hasja cylindrical shank 39 which fits in a bore in the end of the arm 4-6 and which is clamped in any desired position of longitudinal and also rotary adjustment by a setscrew 3L A compression spring 43 surrounding the shaft 42 and interposed between the upper faceof the feed roll l4 and a washer 45 urges the shaft 42-down. The

washer 45 is held against upward movement 'byiengagement with the lower end of a bushing- 4! in the bearing 44. The downward position-of the roll I4 is adjustably limited by the engagement with the upper end-of the bushing 4| of a collar-41 secured by a setscrew to thershaft 42. The

rear end of the arm 45 is pivotally mounted for heightwise movement upon a pin '48 secured in the, post 24. Adjustment of the heightwise positheupper end of the shaft '42 is a gear 5z whic'h meshes witha worm 54 upon a'shaft' 56. A brao'k- :et 58 .secured upon the arms' 30 supports a bracksure against the rubbing roll I0.

et 60 which, in turn, carries bearings 62 and '64 in which the shaft 56 is journaled. Secured upon the rear end of the shaft 56 is a bevel gear 66 which meshes with a bevel gear 68 on a shaft ID. A pulley I2 on the shaft I is driven by a belt I4 which, in turn, is driven by a pulley IE on the motor shaft 40.

The feed roll I6 is secured upon the lower end of an inclined shaft I8 journalled and longitudinally slidable in a bearing 83 which, in turn, is carried upon the forward end of an arm 82 (Fig. 1) similar to the arm 46. The bearing 80 has provisions similar to those of the bearing 44 for longitudinal and rotary adjustment. The roll I6 is yieldingly held down to a stop position by a spring 83 similar to the spring 43. The rear end of the arm 82 is fulcrumed for heightwise swinging movement upon the pin 48 and the heightwise position of the roll I6 is determined by adjusting screws 84 (Fig. 2) and 85 (Fig. 1) in the same way as the heightwise position of the roll i4 is determined by the screws 50 and SI. The drive of the roll I6 is obtained through a gear 86 secured upon the upper end of the shaft "I8 and meshing with the worm 54. The rolls I4 and I6 are similar to each other and are positioned on opposite sides of the pressing roll II), the shafts 42 and I8 being downwardly inclined toward each other. The work-engaging portions of the rolls I4 and I6 consist of rubber pads 88 set into cup-shaped ends of metal holders. The pads 88 have flat end faces which are presented to the work. These rolls are both driven at the same speed, which is materially less than the speed of the pressing roll Ill. The direction of rotation of the various members is indicated by arrows on the drawings.

The work support comprises a resiliently supported roll 89 having a cylindrical periphery 98 (Fig. which urges the work with yielding pres- The axis of the roll 89 is positioned rearwardly (in the machine) of the common plane of the axes of the feed rolls I4 and iii. The opposite end faces of the roll 89 have conically beveled marginal portions 92 and 94. The roll 89 is carried by a shaft 95 which is journaled in a pair of spaced ears 98 mounted upon a plunger Illfi.

The plunger N39 is movable heightwise in a guideway formed in the bracket 26 and is urged upwardly by a spring I94 (Fig. 2) housed in a bore in the plunger. It is kept from turning by a screw pin IIlI (Fig. 2) entering a groove I53 in the plunger. Thelower end of the spring I04 bears against the upper end of an adjusting screw I96 threaded into the bracket 26 and having a knurled head m8 by which it can be turned to adjust the compression of the spring I04. Upward movement of the work support under the influence of the spring 164 is limited by a stop I28 (Fig. 2) 1 having its upper end hooked over a projection extending from the base of the ears 93. The stop I28 is clamped to the bracket 26 by a screw i3!) threaded into the bracket and passing through a slot formed in the:

stop to permit heightwise adjustment. Fine adjustment of the stop 12$ is facilitated by a screw I32 threaded into a lug I34 extending from the bracket 26. The screw I32 passes loosely through a lug I36 on the stop I28 and has a head which bears against the lug I35. The bracket 26 is secured to the base plate 22 by clamping screws III} which extend through suitable slotsin the bracket to provide .for forward and rearward adjustment of the bracket; Such adjustment is desirable in assembling the machine in order to provide for bringing the work support into proper relation to the seam pressing roll Ill. 7

The seam crease guide I8 consists of an upstanding blade-like member curved about part of the roll all and extending close to the locality of operation. The lower end of the crease guide I8 is carried by a bracket I'I2 which is secured to the ears 98.

The seam ridge guide 20 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) consists of an inverted channel or U-shaped member extending close to the locality of operation. The upper part of the guide 20 is straight and is guided for heightwise movement in a guideway II4 which is carried upon the end of a rod H6 extending forwardly from the bracket '60. The guideway IE4 is clamped to the rod lit by screws H8. This arrangement for securing the guideing assembly by sliding the guideway forwardly or rearwardly along the rod H6 and .by turning it about the axis of the rod. Theseam ridge guide 20 is yieldingly urged down to a stop-position by a tension spring I21] having its lower end secured to a pin I22 extending from the guideway H4. The upper end of the springIZO is secured to a pin I24 on the seam ridge guide 20. Downward movement of the guide 20 is stopped by engagement of the upper end of a slot I60 in the guide 263 with a conical end of a screw I62 threaded into the wall of the guideway I M and having a knurled head.

In the operation of the machine a work piece W having a seam ridge R is fed by hand, in insideout position, with the seam ridge entering the guide 20 and the seam crease lying over the guide I8. The feed rolls I4 and it, under the yielding pressure of their springs 43, engage the leading edges of the work and press the work against the bevels 92 and 94, respectively. The feed rolls thus grip the work piece and advance it until the leading edge of the work piece is engaged by the pressing roll; The effect of the feedrolls thereafter is to control the feed of the work piec by holding it back against the tendency of the rapidly rotating pressing roll to eject it from the machine. The feed rolls I4 and I6 have another important function; they tension the work transversely of the seam. Since the axis of each of the feed rolls passes, not through the axis .of the work support, but in advance of the, axis of the work support (with respect to the direction of feed), the portion of each feed roll which grips the work will be moving in. axdirection having a component away from the seam as well as a component of feed control in the direction of the seam. The componentsaway from the seam will cause each roll to exert a wiping action upon the work piece in opposition to the other, roll, and will thus result in a tensiom'ng of the workpiece between the two feed rolls. Such .tensioning improves the appearance of the finished work.

The work piece W, thus fed :under transverse tension to the rubbing roll I8, is pressed against the rubbing roll by the spring I04 operating through the roll 89. The relatively large diameter of the rubbin roll I!) (rendered possible by the novel arrangement of the feed rolls'lenables high peripheral speeds of the rubbing roll 'to be attained, with a corresponding reduction inthe pressure necessary to flatten the seam. Such use of high peripheral speed of the rubbing roll with relatively light pressure on the seam avoids straining the stitches and contributes to the improved appearance'of the finished work.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a seam pressing machine, a support for a work piece having a seam ridge, a Pair of members having work-engaging surfaces adapted to contact a work piece on said support on opposite sides of the seam ridge, means for mounting said members for movement in which the Work-engaging portions of said members wipe the work piece in directions away from the seam ridge to tension the work piece across the seam ridge, and means for driving said members to effect such Wiping action.

2. In a seam pressingmachine, a work support, means for guiding a work piece having a seam ridge for movement in the direction of said seam ridge, and a pair of driven rolls arranged to grip the work piece against the work support on opposite sides of the seam ridge, said rolls being arranged to cause the rotational movement of their work-gripping portions to be away from the seam to create a transverse tension in the work plece.

3. A seam pressing machine comprising a seam pressing roll of relatively large diameter, a work support, a pair of driven feed rolls at opposite sides of the work support closely adjacent to the locality of operation of the pressing roll, and

supporting means for the feed rolls constructed and arranged to leave a space between the feed rolls to accommodate the large diameter pressing roll.

4. A seam pressing machine comprising a seam rubbing roll of relatively large diameter, a mem ber below said seam rubbing roll for supporting the seam of a work piece against the pressure of the seam rubbing roll, a pair of driven shafts at opposite sides respectively of the seam rubbing roll, said shafts converging downwardly, and a feed roll on the lower portion of each of said shafts, said feed rolls having work-engagingportions of rubber and co-operating with said seamsupporting member to control the feed of the work.

MILTON H. ROSKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 296,869 Ober et a1. Apr. 15, 1886 1,759,643 Herbster May 20, 1930 1,769,239 Siegfried July 1, 1930 2,316,363 Quinn Apr. 13, 1943 

